As we made our way to 34 Homestead Road, Gosnells, Western Australia, for the Canning River RunningWorks Festival, my son pointed to a strange formation in the sky and said, “That’s a roll cloud.” I was taken aback by his knowledge, especially as I couldn’t recall ever seeing one before. Later, I read that a roll cloud is a rare, tube-shaped, horizontal cloud formation that appears to roll along its axis. It’s a type of arcus cloud, completely detached from other cloud formations. It was definitely a stunning, natural spectacle to start the morning.

After a 25-minute drive, we arrived at the venue, greeted by a bustling parking area filled with runners warming up—jogging, stretching, and mentally preparing. The energy in the cool morning air was infectious. Personally, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves. I hadn’t raced in months, and having recently moved to Perth from Botswana, I was eager to experience the local running scene.

The Course: A Perfect Blend of Scenery and Challenge

The marathoners set off at 7:00 AM, followed by the half-marathoners at 7:30 AM. Then it was time for the 10K runners. To my surprise, this group (86 runners) was much smaller than the half-marathon field (236) —quite the opposite of races back in Botswana, where the 10K typically draws the largest crowd.

Just as we were about to start, the leading marathoner was already coming back, having completed his first 10K lap in around 40 minutes. More marathoners began filtering through, prompting the race announcer to delay our start briefly. Finally, after a rapid 5-4-3-2-1 countdown, we were off!

I had positioned myself in the middle of the pack, as I usually do, but was quickly overtaken by several runners. Most of them I only saw again on their return. The out-and-back route was scenic, lined with tall, lush trees that provided much-needed shade. The terrain was mostly flat with gentle inclines, offering just enough challenge to keep things interesting. A slight breeze made for ideal running conditions, though the increasing heat was a reminder to stay hydrated. I carried my bottle as usual, but there was a well-placed water station at 3.5K that also served runners on their return leg from the 5K turnaround point.

A Great Race Atmosphere

As seems typical around the world, there was great camaraderie among the runners. Encouragement was everywhere—”Well done!” and “Keep going!” were exchanged as we passed each other, and there were shared chuckles on the inclines. At one point, I saw a runner frantically looking around her, holding her ear. I realised she must have lost an ear pod and remembered seeing something that looked like it a few metres behind me. I quickly signalled to her that I’d seen something and the relief on her face was obvious.

One key observation stood out: the field was much faster than what I was accustomed to. In Botswana, I typically place somewhere in the middle of the pack, with plenty of slower runners and walkers behind me. Here, I found myself among the last few. My finishing time of 1:14:27 placed me 74th out of 84 runners, with a respectable pace of 7:18 min/km, yet much further back than I would have expected based on my previous race experiences back home.

This sparked an interesting question: Are races in Botswana more inclusive of slower runners than in Australia? Or are Australians just generally fitter and faster? Now, that’s an interesting blog idea for another day!

As the course was well-marked with red directional arrows on the path, there were very few marshals on the course. Most volunteers were stationed at the water stop, enthusiastically offering water and electrolytes to runners. A handful of spectators dotted the course, some holding up encouraging signs. One read, “You’re not sweating, you’re sparkling!” Another, about chafing, made me laugh, though I can’t recall the exact wording now! There were also great photographers on the course, and I spotted them just on time to smile!

The Final Push: Crossing the Finish Line

I used this race as a training run for my upcoming Half Marathon in May, but I still wanted to push myself. And indeed, I clocked my fastest pace of the year, despite finding the inclines quite challenging. Determined not to walk, I powered through, knowing that every uphill meant a rewarding downhill to follow.

I ran the first half faster with my pace ranging between 07:03 and 07:17, and definitely slowed down in the second half, with my pace even dropping to 07:42 in the ninth kilometre. However, spotting my son filming near the finish line gave me a final burst of energy. He ran alongside me for as long as he could, adding that extra va-va-voom! With the finish line in sight, I surged forward, savouring that familiar blend of exhaustion and accomplishment.

Some Final Thoughts

Crossing the finish line felt incredible. While this was just a training run, it also marked my first race in Australia, giving me a taste of the local running scene. It was similar to racing in Botswana – except for the pace of the field and the absence of 10K finisher medals (something clearly stated in the race information, though I hadn’t paid much attention). But medal or no medal, this race was worth doing. The beautiful course, well-shaded paths, and supportive atmosphere made for a memorable experience. The mix of flat terrain, rolling hills, and challenging inclines kept things interesting, and the friendly energy from fellow runners and spectators added to the fun.

As I continue training for my Half Marathon, I’ll carry this experience with me, knowing that every race brings growth, learning, and the joy of running in new places, and of course, always armed with my Blue, Black and White flag and socks!

I’m joining two amazing runners, Kim from Running on the Fly and Deborah from Confessions from a Mother Runner for their link up, the “Weekly Run Down.